Ladder attachment



Oct. 17, 1944. N. BENGERT LADDER ATTACHMENT Filed May 26. 1943 mmmmmm 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor /4 v 4 Nicholas Berger? By @Mm Paten ted Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER ATTACHMENT Nicholas Bengert, New Orleans, La.

Application May 26, 1943, Serial No. 488,583

. a midpoint thereof and having a portion there- 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ladder structures, and more particularly to means whereby the lower ends of the ladder runners can be adjusted to permit safe use of the ladder on uneven r inclined surfaces.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the character stated which can be conveniently attached to conventional ladders.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a ladder attachment of the character described which can be not only readily attached to a conventional ladder, but conveniently adjusted to meet demands.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a ladder showing the adjusting means adjusted to permit use of the ladder on a stairway.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the lower portion of a ladder showing the attachment installed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view showing the attachment applied to a ladder.

Figure 4 is a section on line l4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of one of the frames of the attachment.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of one of the frames of the attachment.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view looking at the opposite side from that shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the frame shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view with a portion broken away showing the pressure foot and screw.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to a ladder of conventional construction, the same having a pair of runners 6, 6 connected by rungs I.

An adjustable leg structure generally referred to by numeral 8 is provided at the lower end of each of the runners 6, and these are capable of longitudinal adjustment on the runners to permit extension of th runners to meet the demands of uneven surfaces upon which the ladder must be supported.

Each of the extensible leg structures 3 consist of an elongated leg member 9 having a of embracing the lowermost portion of the runner '6. This guide preferabl has a roller II therein for riding the inside of the said corresponding runner 6.

It is also preferable that each leg member 9 have two pressure units and each of these-units consist of a rectangular-shaped guide frame I2 having a roller l3 therein for riding the inside of the corresponding runner 6 and a boss I4 at one end formed with a threaded opening for feedably receiving a screw l5. As can b seen in Figure 4, each elongated leg 9 extends through two guide frames I2, I2 and one guide frame I0, and these frames are secured to the leg member by screws or the like I6.

For each of the pressure units, a pressure foot I1 is provided and has a hollow neck [8 extending therefrom and into the hollow neck I8 'extends the reduced and smooth end portion I9 of the corresponding pressure screw I5, which screw at its outer end has a handle 2|].

A pin 2| is disposed through the neck I8 and passes through a circumferential groove 22 in the smooth portion I9 of the screw l5 and thus the screw I5 is swivelly connected to the pressure foot I1.

Obviously, by unloosening the screws [5, the legs 9 can -be adjusted to the extent desired, after which by feeding the screws inwardly, the pressure plate l1 will serve to firmly clamp the leg in place, by urging the rollers I3 against the inner side of the corresponding runner, while the pressure feet I! bind against the outer sides of the corresponding runner 6.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape,

size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In combination with a ladder embodying a pair of spaced runners rigidly connected by rungs, an adjustable extension leg on the lower portion of at least one of said runners, said extension leg embodying an elongated leg member disposed at the outer side of and parallel with said runner, three rectangular guide frames embracing said runner and the leg member and each having a transverse roller journaled therein and contacting the inner side of the runner, means securing said guide frames to the leg substantially square guide frame I0 secured to member, two of said guide frames being positioned and spaced so as to engage respective ones of the two lowermost rungs of the ladder when the leg member is fully extended below the runner and to engage the next higher rungs when said leg member is fully retracted with its lower end substantially even with the lower end of said runner, and clamping screws threaded through the outer sides of said two guide frames and freely extending through the leg member to bind against the outer side of said runner when adjusted inwardly, the remaining third guide frame being disposed to occupy a position just above the lower end of the runner when said leg member is fully extended and to engage the lowermost run of the ladder when said leg member is fully retracted.

NICHOLAS BENGERT. 

